Clemson Eliminates NC State

by Akula Wolf on May 28, 2011 5:17 PM EDT

Florida State gave the Wolfpack the assist they needed by beating Georgia Tech this morning, knocking the Jackets from contention and putting the Pack back in control of their own tournament destiny. They were in position to advance with a win on Saturday just as they did a year ago.

The game started well enough--State scratched a few runs across while D.J. Thomas pitched reasonably well for 4+ innings. Perhaps things would have been different had the bullpen been managed more efficiently, though I don't blame Avent for turning to Josh Easley first. What I don't understand is why little-used Nick Rice was the next man out of the pen after a day off; Avent presumably had anyone he wanted at his disposal. Rice was tasked with getting the team out of a two on, no out situation in the 5th and almost managed to wiggle the team out of the inning, but then he made a mistake that was crushed out of the park. The home run gave Clemson a 4-3 lead, which ended up being all they'd need. By the time Chris Overman came into the game in the 8th, State was all but finished.

Oh well. On the bright side, we can rest easy knowing we're in the NCAA tournament field, which will be announced on Monday.

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State's issue is hitting.

as has been the case from the get go, this team doesn’t hit well. and. this team especially doesn’t hit well under pressure and is more of a front running team. pitching isn’t bad and fielding is pretty darn good.
i knew once State gave up the lead, it would be over. in the top of the 6th i was out of my seat pacing because i could see the loss coming. State almost got out of it just missing a double play to do so. then the 3 run homer basically ended it.
State has Maynard hitting about 330, Diaz above 310 and Riggins just above 300. the rest of the players who get significant playing time hit under 300. contrast this with Clemson, GaTech and FSU and one will see why State for the most part will have a hard time beating these teams. hitting was supposed to be the strength of the team this year with pitching questionable, but it never worked out that way.
still, all in all, it was a fun tournament, and a good year as i remember that at the beginning of the year one pundit had State just outside of the NCAA tournment.

by sbas2 on May 28, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

I've been trying to figure out what happened to Chris Schaeffer

.315/.432/.611 last year.
.202/.323/.308 this year.

No way that’s all the new bats’ fault.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on May 28, 2011 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions

fans i talk to about it think

that the collision with Ramsey of FSU last year in the championship game is the reason.

by sbas2 on May 29, 2011 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions

why?

Lingering psychological effects?

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on May 29, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

if the collision is the

reason for the decline in Schaeffer’s play, he would not be the first catcher to have that happen after being decked at home plate while catching. the most famous is Ray Fosse who was hit by Pete Rose in the 1970 all star game: http://articles.sfgate.com/1999-07-10/sports/17692500_1_time-hits-leader-ray-fosse-collision

one difference is Schaeffer appeared to be blind-sided while most catchers as in Fosse’s case know its coming.

could be psychological, or the hit could have rearranged his body throwing of hand/eye co-ordination etc. hard to know, but i do think that the collision is the reason for Schaeffer’s decline.

by sbas2 on May 29, 2011 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

note that Buster Posey's season

was ended recently by such a collision. its part of major league baseball where one can run the catcher over. not so in college as the runner must slide. however, Schaeffer’s case was different as we discussed last year. he was up the base path in the baseline.
here is an interesting note. i was at a bar prior to the Clemson-FSU game talking to two very nice FSU fans. they told me that down in Florida the word is that the collision never happened. of course i told them very cordially that it was as i was there to see it first hand.

by sbas2 on May 29, 2011 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions